BIO

FRANCESCA PRIHASTI

Originally from Indonesia and now based in New York City, Francesca Prihasti is an internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and composer, recognized for leading her band in distinguished recordings and performances across Australia, Indonesia, and the United States.

Prihasti graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and New York University, during which time she studied privately with renowned artists including Judy Bailey and Mike Nock (Australia), as well as Kevin Hays, Alan Broadbent, Peter Bernstein, Drew Gress, Ari Hoenig, and Alan Ferber (USA).

She released the critically acclaimed album Adriana, which was featured on ABC Radio, All About Jazz, DownBeat Magazine, The New York City Jazz Record, and Paste Magazine—the latter naming her among “12 Women Influencing the Future of Jazz.” She was also featured in SFJAZZ Magazine’s list of “13 Rising Women Instrumentalists You Should Know.”

Prihasti has released two other critically acclaimed recordings as a bandleader, each featuring a stellar cast of New York jazz musicians. Her debut release, Night Trip, featured Marco Panascia (double bass) and Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums), followed by her second album, Evolving, with Rodney Green (drums) and Orlando le Fleming (double bass). Both albums received high praise in major Australian newspapers such as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian, as well as from radio stations and music publications including Jazz Australia, CutCommon Magazine, Eastside FM, and ABC Jazz.

She has led her ensemble in performances at prestigious jazz festivals and venues around the world, including the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival, Motion Blue Jakarta, Java Jazz Festival, Jazz Goes to Campus, Jazzgroove Association, Venue 505, Colbourne Avenue, Manly Jazz Festival, The Sound Lounge, Provincetown Playhouse, Club Bonafide, and ShapeShifter Lab.

“Francesca Prihasti paints a series of fantastic notions and tuneful tales on ‘Adriana’. The album, awash with colors both bright and complex….There’s much to appreciate in this music, including Prihasti’s gifts in juxtaposing myriad ideas against one another without losing clarity.” Dan Bilawski, All About Jazz

““Her gift for melody, which flows naturally throughout this appealing release, is like a healing balm” Paste Magazine, Bill Milkowsky

“Prihasti’s piano melodies are punctuated with precise and pungent lines. She has primed herself and her band to play under bigger lights”  Downbeat Magazine, Denise Sullivan